14 Longyearbyen Facts: Surprising Stories From Svalbard

Sunrise/sunset in Longyearbyen.

Longyearbyen might just be one of the strangest towns there is to visit in the planet. Or at least, the Nordic part of the world. Either way, these Longyearbyen facts will probably surprise and perhaps even delight you.

Not only is it easy on the eye, but it’s quirky to the point of being, well, downright weird at times.

Here’s a few facts about Svalbard and its largest town. If you’re looking for things to do in Longyearbyen and surrounds, check out this post!

Fun fact – Gruve means mine.

Longyearbyen Fact 1. The streets have no name

Streets in Longyearbyen are numbered, rather than named. So are the various mines around Spitsbergen. Keeps things simple, I guess!

Longyearbyen Fact 2. Cemeteries don’t exist

What? – you must surely be asking. Well, the soil in Svalbard is permafrost, meaning (as the name sort of suggests) it’s permanently frozen.

So, bodies buried within the archipelago do not decompose!

Longyearbyen’s small graveyard has one small graveyard that stopped burying bodies over 80 years ago (you can only be buried now if you are cremated first). Bodies are shipped back to the mainland. Those nearing retirement age are encouraged to settle elsewhere.

The town’s old graveyard at least, has opened doors for medical scientists. Bodies dug up in 1998 revealed victims of the 1918 flu virus, that were so well-preserved, they still had traces of the virus in their systems. This sort of information helps scientists learn more about the disease and create vaccines or anti-viral drugs to work against it.

Longyearbyen Fact 3. Residents require an “Alcohol Card” in order to purchase drinks

This, we were told, was a relic from the town’s old mining days.

Miners were given a “rations card”, which they used to get a drink or a bottle of beer. The rule is still in place for permanent residents, who have to show their card at the local coop, Nordpolet in order to get a drink. If you come here as a visitor, you can use your airline ticket in lieu of the card.

Don’t worry – you can buy as much grog as you like at the local bars!

Guns at the ready and let’s go!

Longyearbyen Fact 4. Over 40 countries have rights to Svalbard

The area was considered free of a ruling nation, before minerals were found on the island. Then everyone started squabbling over who could mine where and trouble ensued.

The answer was found in the Svalbard or Spitsbergen Treaty, which recognises the sovereignty of Norway over Svalbard. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Norwegian Law is the be all end all.

Over 40 countries signed the treaty, including Australia, the USA, the UK, China, Argentina, Lithuania and South Africa (some of those seem random, so I felt the need to throw them in there). This is why both Russia and Norway were allowed to mine on the island of Spitsbergen. It’s nice when everyone gets along.

It’s still considered part of Norway and the country is responsible for its environmental conservation. Yet, any member of the country that signed the treaty is allowed to become a resident of Svalbard and has the right to fish, hunt, mine or trade on the island.

There are signs in hotels, at the museum and the local library, asking visitors to leave their often snow and mud encrusted shoes at the door. You can slip them into a little cubby-hole – they’ll be perfectly safe as crime is virtually non-existent in Svalbard – and come back from them when you venture on outside.

Some places provide slippers, in order to keep things cosy.

The same applies to the guns that many residents are required to have on their person when leaving town (more on that below). I mean, it would be pretty rude to stagger into someone’s house or a local hotel with gun in tow. It’s just good manners coming into play, really.

Watch out! Bears about!

Longyearbyen Fact 7. You can’t leave the city limits without a firearm

And why do people have guns? Well, that’s due to the risk of interactions with the native wildlife – polar bears. (I didn’t get to see any, but others have been lucky enough to spot polar bears in Svalbard).

Hungry bears have been known to attack humans. So, it’s illegal to leave town without a firearm… nor the knowledge of how to use it.

Longyearbyen Fact 8. Longyearbyen’s history must remain intact

Residents are banned from removing remnants that are considered to be of historical importance.

This has led itself to some pretty cool sights.

Consider the preserved mining train in Ny-Ålesund, the German plane that crashed near Longyearbyen’s first airport at the end of WW2, or the entire town of Pyramiden, a Soviet ghost town north of Longyearbyen.

Just a little bit chilly…

Longyearbyen Fact 9. Unemployment is heavily frowned upon

You can only really live in Longyearbyen if you have a job, somewhere to live and the funds to organise a ticket home.

Longyearbyen Fact 10. More rent than own property

Much of the land on Svalbard is owned by the local Norwegian government and mining companies, who are reluctant to part with it. Residents of Longyearbyen told me that on the whole, it is quite difficult to own and build homes, so most tend to rent.

There are restrictions on what colours you can paint your house too, but it helps keep the town looking decidedly cheerful.

Longyearbyen Fact 11. The sun disappears for four months of the year

Residents of Longyearbyen must surely look forward to the four month season known as the “polar night”.

The sun disappears from view in late October and doesn’t re-emerge until early March. Yikes.

There are some payoffs – such as the midnight sun during the summer months, when on the flip side, the sun never sets! You’re also pretty much guaranteed to see the northern lights when visiting during the polar night.

Longyearbyen Fact 13. The town is home the the northernmost church, post office, ATM, university and bank

University Centre in Svalbard claims to be home to the northernmost library too. This is disputed by the residents of Ny-Ålesund, who have their own collection of books that you could call a library. Let’s let them have it.

And the northernmost swimming pool and statue of Lenin? They can be found in the nearby(ish) ghost town of Pyramiden.

Making friends with John the dog.

Longyearbyen Fact 14. Dogs are encouraged as pets. Cats are not allowed

Longyearbyen was certainly a dog lover’s paradise.

Everywhere I turned, I was surrounded by man’s favourite four legged friend. Svalbardians (if that’s a thing?) certainly love their dogs. Every time we ventured outside, we’d see people walking their mutts come rail, hail, snow or shine. So many pats were had around town.

You do apparently need a permit to own a dog, but from what I could see, it didn’t seem like it could be all that difficult to obtain one.

On the contrary, cats are banned from Longyearbyen. And before cat lovers begin howling – consider this.

Cats are an invasive species (just like humans!) that often kill for fun (just like humans!).

The eco system in Svalbard is isolated (icelated – not the first time I’ve made that pun) and mainly consists of Arctic birds. Just imagine the damage that cats would do to the local wildlife.

Weirdly, you can bring aquarium fish, rabbits and hamsters onto the island, with no questions asked.

So, yep. Strange place. Would you consider visiting Longyearbyen?

Many thanks to the folk at Svalbard Museum who assisted with the fact checking of this article.

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LC can often be found nursing a cup of green tea, with her head in a book. She is a writer, video editor and professional cheese eater. Her life's aspiration is to one day live on a farm in Tasmania with 11 dogs, a Shetland pony and several pygmy goats.

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Belinda
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November 20, 2016

Fascinating! A great read! And, as always with your blog…..sensational photos!

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“It’s still considered part of Norway and the country is responsible for its environmental conservation. Yet, any member of the country that signed the treaty is allowed to become a resident of Svalbard and has the right to fish, hunt, mine or trade on the island.” This is the best news ever!

My partner and I are struggling with the whole ‘foreigners marrying thing.’ You’d think being married would allow you to live in each other’s country, but nope. Good to know we always have Svalbard as a backup plan. 😛

Oh, and my partner got a chance to visit there for free on a two week expedition last year, which I’m still super jealous over (lols) and he mentioned that it’s also illegal to lock any doors. Did you encounter this same law or is he jerking my chain? It’s supposedly for people to find safety in a polar bear attack.

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It’s nuts, right?! If you’re married it should be black and white. I guess that’s thanks to the many people who have abused the system in the past. Well, I guess if you can live in the northernmost corner of the world together, then that’s something!

Jealous of your partner too. I’m not sure whether it’s illegal or not, but a resident there did tell me that no one ever locks anything as there’s no crime. The polar bear thing wouldn’t surprise me!

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You have such a lovely blog Laura!! This post is incredible – I learnt so many things!! But the most intriguing I think is the no cemeteries and frozen preserved bodies. Keep up the interesting posts!!
Kristie

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This was so interesting! I hadn’t ever heard of Svalbard until a few months ago when another fave blogger of mine went on a trip there and now I’m kind of buzzing to go!
“Those nearing retirement age are encouraged to settle elsewhere” – how on earth do you approach telling someone you think their time’s almost up and they should hop along back to the mainland?!

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I hadn’t heard of it either until it came up in conversation at work when I was in London… then some workmates actually went there and I cut their story together for da news and was so jealous that I booked a holiday there a few days after. It was amazing and weird. I’d love to go back, particularly during the polar night. It’s super easy to get to from Europe as well and not as expensive as you might think (although it’s part of Norway, so still kinda expensive).

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I totally agree, Rhiannon, that’s exactly what I was thinking!! “Hey, you’re getting old, how about you die somewhere else?!”…

And huh, LC, faster Internet on Longyearbyen than Australia – of course, is all I can say. 🙁 Awesome collection of cool facts, totally makes me want to go and visit there now (though my feet are freezing already). And what’s with the Thai population?! That’s got me intrigued…

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I know, the most disappointing thing about coming home has been the Internet. It’s amazing what we’ll put up with, in Australia. The Thai population is random! And I thoroughly recommend visiting. It’s an amazing place.

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[…] go on – there are more polar bears living on Svalbard than there are people. For this reason, it is illegal to leave the city limits of Longyearbyen, unless you’re in possession of a shotgun and you know how to use it. Polar bears have been known […]

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[…] of around 2,000 people that is situated on the island of Spitsbergen (check out this site for more facts about Longyearbyen). Most residents are up there working, whether it be for oil companies, research assignments, or […]

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Hello, my name is LC. I’m passionate about the environment, green tea, brunch (the most beloved meal of any urban Australian), travel, books and photography. This is where I write about all things sustainable, backyard travel in Oz and odd things to do and eat around the world. Oh and I’m crazy about birds.